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Report: Rep. Martha McSally alleges sexual abuse as teen by coach

Rep. Martha McSally launches run for U.S. Senate

U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (left) poses for a photo with Kathy Arjaratnam and her son, 9-year-old Anton, of Scottsdale, after McSally's announcement Jan. 12, 2018, that she is running for U.S. Senate.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Martha McSally told the Wall Street Journalduring a recent interview that she was sexually abused as a teen by her high school track coach.

McSally, a Tucson Republican who is running in Arizona's GOP primary to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said in a story published Monday the alleged sexual abuse happened when she was a senior in high school.

Later Monday, McSally's campaign released a written statement from McSally.

"During the course of a recent interview about my path as an endurance athlete and completing the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, I shared some dark experiences from my past," McSally said in the statement. "These experiences don't define me, but only deepened and strengthened my resolve to not be powerless, and dedicate my life to fight for others, especially girls, women and the vulnerable."

McSally, now 52, told the Wall Street Journal that the experience came following the death of her father. To help her cope with the grief, she turned to running and other exercise.

The article said that the coach, who was 20 years older than her, coerced her into sex. Although she was uncomfortable, she said the coach kept her from talking about it with others by manipulating her mentally.

"Even though he didn't physically force me, it certainly was an emotional manipulation," McSally was quoted in the story as saying.

The story said she tried to avoid pregnancy by exercising so much that she would not have a regular menstrual cycle.

"I was freaking out that he would get me pregnant," she told the Wall Street Journal.

McSally attended St. Academy-Bay View, a Catholic school in Rhode Island. Representatives from the school's alumni office and main office did not immediately respond to The Republic's calls for comment.

At the time, she said in a written statement that she had "threats" made against her, "and wasn't even safe in my own home or my car when my stalker broke in and held me in a hostage-like situation."

McSally told the Journal that when she was running for Congress, she got a Facebook friend request from Dwyer.

"I left a pretty scathing message, but I also told him that I forgave him in the same message," she is quoted in the Journal story as saying. "Not because he deserved it ... Forgiveness is about freeing yourself — not allowing any sort of deep anger to have power over you."